Hanging Fire Comprehension Questions

1. What tone does the poem best express?

• horror

• regret

• senselessness

• anxiety

What can be inferred about the speaker’s view of the mother through the use of the repeated phrase in each stanza?

• a compassionate parent

• a unsympathetic parent

• a humane parent

• a considerate parent

What does the closed door symbolize in the poem?

• The mother’s heartache for the child

• The mother’s lack of attention towards the child.

• The neediness of the child

• The child’s nervousness

In each stanza, we see the words, “momma’s in the bedroom with the door closed” What other theme is also repeated in each stanza?

• celebration

• wonderment

• longevity

• uneasiness

5. Which line below is the most clear example of visual imagery?

• my skin has betrayed me

• sing sad songs

• Tell the truth about me

• there is nothing I want to do

What creates suspense in stanza two ?

• the truth will be revealed if the speaker dies

• The speaker having to learn to dance

• The speaker having to learn to dance

• he speaker saying that nobody stops to think about his/her side of it.

Which phrase from “Hanging Fire” indicates that the speaker is not an adult?

• "always so ashy"

• "what if I die"

• "I am fourteen"

• "too small for me"

A concern that the speaker in “Hanging Fire” repeats in each stanza relates to

• dying soon

• needing help

• feeling happy

• wanting space

In lines 19–21 of “Hanging Fire,” the speaker says “there is nothing I want to do and too much that has to be done” to express

• frustration at having too many responsibilities

• a constantly changing view of life.

• a feeling of excitement about the future.

• anger about not making the Math Team.

In “Hanging Fire” what is the effect of the speaker's repetition of the same phrase at the end of each stanza?

• It shows that the speaker is not dependent on his or her mother.

• It suggests a good relationship with his or her mother.

• It reveals the mother's need to better understand her child.

• It emphasizes the speaker's need for the mother's guidance.